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Why You Need to be Saved!A well known (in his time) sceptic of the claims of Christianity, Colonel Robert Ingersoll, once opined: “Christianity cannot live in peace with any other form of faith. If that religion be true, there is but one Saviour, one inspired book and but one little narrow ... path that leads to heaven. Such a religion is necessarily uncompromising." 1 This man realized the consequence of the truth claims of Christianity and defined the consequence succinctly and clearly, without mincing his words. In a somewhat different manner, the apostle Paul, himself an enemy of Christianity before his own conversion, recognized the essential consequence when he wrote, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Cor. 15:19, NKJV). Paul is saying in this passage that if the fundamental truth claims of Christianity are in fact not true, then we are foolish (pitiable) because we could be living our lives completely without consequence, as worldly non-believers do, instead of submitting ourselves to a higher authority. Both men are plainly and bluntly honest in their estimation of the consequence of the fundamental claims of Christianity. Yet most people refuse to look at or consider these essential truth claims. These claims are called in the Bible the “Gospel” or the “good news” or “good message.” The essential elements of this good message of the Bible can be summarized in four points:
The Bible testifies to these four points and discusses the inevitable consequence of them depending on whether or not you agree and commit to them. Christ has said concerning the way of salvation: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NKJV). In another place the apostle Peter, himself an eyewitness of all that had taken place during Christ’s earthly ministry, said: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NKJV). These are strong and unequivocal words. But if they are true then certainly the consequences of them must also be true, namely, that if you do not accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour then you will:
If the Gospel is not true, then there is no ultimate difference between the believer and the unbeliever except how they live here and now. But if the Gospel is true, then Oh, what a difference! For then the unbeliever faces a never-ending eternity of suffering and misery where there will be nothing but weeping and the grinding of teeth in pain and sorrow and regret. Let me quote JM Boice at length on the absolute importance and necessity of making a decision: "Do you know the difference between “temporary” and “permanent”? Temporary refers to something that can be changed; permanent refers to something that cannot be changed. This is important for understanding our present subject. For the subject is God’s judgment, and the central point is that God’s judgment will establish a permanent distinction between men, some entering into the fullness of life and some into what the Bible calls death or damnation. "The day of God’s judgment is spoken of in many places in the Bible. For instance, to the Romans [the apostle] Paul wrote of “the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares” (Rom. 2:16). He preached to the Greeks in Athens, saying that the times of their ignorance God had formerly overlooked “but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice” (Acts 17:30-31). The Book of Revelation describes this judgment in the twentieth chapter. Jesus also spoke of this judgment, saying “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice [he meant his own] and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge onlyas I hear, and my judgment is just for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:28-30). "These verses present three doctrines. First, death is not the end of existence. Second, there are two forms of existence beyond the grave, one good and one terrible. Third, the particular kind of existence to be entered into, depends upon the individual’s relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ.2 Does this mean that God takes pleasure in the damnation of souls? Of course not! God asks the question, “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” (Eze 18:23) and answers His own question by saying, “As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, `I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back; turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?' (Eze. 33:11). It was for this very reason—God’s redeeming love—that we read in the Gospel of John, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17)." 2 Therefore, I urge you, dear Reader, to think on these things. Are you so sure that the Gospel is not true? Are you completely confident in your own worldly righteousness and believe it be sufficient to save you from the damnation warned of in the Scriptures? Do you truly believe that your goodness will cover you in the day of your death or that death is merely the beginning of oblivion and non-existence? If you do believe that the Bible is not exclusively true and that you have therefore nothing to fear (or look forward to with joyful anticipation) then I have nothing further to say that will be of any benefit for you. But if, dear Reader, but if, there is even a shred of doubt about what has been said thus far, then I urge you, no, I plead with you, to consider seriously the essential truth claims of Christianity. If the truth claims of Christianity are true, then coming to a decision for Christ and answering the gospel call in repentance and faith will be the very most important single decision you ever will, or ever could, make. Let me close with the words of the Scottish divine Thomas Boston (1676-1732): "And now sinners, what shall I say to you? I have given you some view of the privileges of those in the state of grace. You have seen them afar off; but alas! they are not yours, because you are not Christ's. The sinfulness of an unregenerate state is yours, and the misery of it is yours also; you have neither part nor lot in this matter. The guilt of all your sins lies upon you; you have no part in the righteousness of Christ. There is no peace to you, no peace with God, no true peace of conscience, for you have no saving interest in the great Peace-maker. You are none of God's family....You have no part in the Spirit of sanctification, and, in one word you have no inheritance among them that are sanctified. All I can say to you in this matter, is, that the case is not desparate, they may yet be yours 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me' (Rev. 3:20). Heaven is proposing a union with earth still; the potter is making suit to his own clay; and the gates of the city of refuge are not yet closed. O that we could compel you to come in!" 3 Please take the time to investigate the links provided for your benefit on this site, starting with the bullet list at the top of this page. Also, listen to the short (twelve minutes) audio exhortation provided here as well as at the top right of this page. Please don’t hesitate to email me if you would like to learn more or if you would just like to begin a dialogue with someone who was lost but now is found, was blind but now sees. It may also help you to read my own testimony. May the God of salvation
bless you richly by drawing you to Himself. 1. Quoted in Boice,
Romans, Volume 1, Baker, Grand Rapids, 1991, p. 44
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Why
New Vineyard? The inspiration for New Vineyard is that of the parable of the Vine and the Branches from John 15:1-11. Disclaimer: The material written by the owner of this site (James Gunn) should be considered firstly as a personal understanding and explanation of the way of salvation given to man by the sovereign Triune God as He has purposefully revealed Himself in Holy Scripture, the Bible. Secondly, the authority of the material contained herein derives from these self-same Scriptures (of the Old and New Testaments) and not from any demonstrated expertise in theological matters by the owner. To the degree the
material herein is true to Scripture, it is authoritative. |
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